Picture: Chateau-de-Sable. C E Ayr
“Merci” mumbled Monsieur le Maire tightening the string around his baggy trousers as he climbed from his rusting 2cv.
I was seeking permission to convert the grounds of the dilapidated house from a smallholding to a garden worthy of Capability Brown.
“Non monsieur, non non non” he spat. Even I as a non-French speaker recognised that his answer was in the negative.
“Non monsieur, non non non” he spat. Even I as a non-French speaker recognised that his answer was in the negative.
However, a bottle of whisky later he was not only applauding my plans but offering me the services of the village gardener!
Such is l’art de la négociation Française.
My house!
.
Things a bottle of whisky can do, huh? :)
ReplyDeleteThe universal panacea!
DeleteBelle histoire.
ReplyDeleteEt quelle jolie maison!
Je devais quatre années heureuses il
DeleteHa.. Love what booze can buy.
ReplyDeleteIt plays an important part in village politics!
Deletegreat job. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much plaridel
DeleteDear Keith,
ReplyDeleteAmazing what a bottle of hooch will do.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Indeed it is Rochelle!
DeleteWhat? A continental bureaucrat capable of being 'bought'. Never! :( See how I avoided insulting the French and including the Spanish...
ReplyDeleteGood Whisky, and a lot of it, make negotiations go smoothly. Fun story.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, he entered into the "spirit" of the negotiations (pun intended). Congratulations, Keith. It's a beautiful house. :) --- Suzanne
ReplyDelete